The Best Geographic Regions for Working Musicians and Singers…

If you live in a lightly-shaded area, you might want to consider moving. This is based on US Department of Labor statistics compiled last year, specifically across available gigs and wages for those gigs.

I wonder how the hourly wage statistics will be panned. Sure my business may get $25/hr for my time on stage, but when you factor in the costs of expenses and the time not on stage to generate that revenue that per hour number drops dramatically, toway below poverty. Also does the number include arena concerts as well as local clubs? That could skew the results greatly.

as a self employed person I have found that prep, training, and tools are never factored into the hour wage structure. I charge $50 an hour – but that’s for the actual time I am engaged in a specific project.

I own a business focused on the regional music scene. Yes, 99% of those I work with do music on a part-time hobbyist basis — but 1% do it full time – and for the most part those who are are making a living doing it.

as a self employed person I have found that prep, training, and tools are never factored into the hour wage structure. I charge $50 an hour – but that’s for the actual time I am engaged in a specific project.

I own a business focused on the regional music scene. Yes, 99% of those I work with do music on a part-time hobbyist basis — but 1% do it full time – and for the most part those who are, are making a living doing it.

Um….those figures are way off as far as hourly pay..
More like 40.00 a NIGHT for 90% of the gigs. This is for 2-4 45 minute sets A NIGHT….Even if you’ve been a pro player for 40 years. This wage hasn’t changed in 40 years..
Oh yeah there’s always FREE… or “% of the bar” or “% of the door”
Based on Southern California….due to the fact that greedy, douche bag club owners dictate what players get paid..

This also doesn’t appear to take competition into account. The areas with the highest rates of employment and hourly wage (if you accept that those are even remotely accurate) are most likely also the areas with highest per capita concentration of musicians competing for the same gigs.
Might be better off being in one of the less green areas…big fish small pond theory. At least in terms of actually getting work.

If you look on the map details link, none of these figues include self-employment figures. So if you own your own jobbing band, are a private lessons teacher or anything like that, it does not show up on this map. Most musicians making any kind of a living are self-employed so this map shows… nothing.